Jenyphur
Member
I have decided to chronicle my journey for better or worse. Let's hope mostly for the better.
After a recent trip to Maldives, I was inspired to get back into the hobby but this time. Had tanks many years ago but never a reef tank. I decided to go with the Coralife Biocube to minimize equipment and lighting upgrades. Funny, I have only had the thing set up for 3 days and am already planning on changing out the media basket and probably adding an ATO, skimmer possibly and other 'stuff'.
I would like to have a few fish (the normal stuff) and learn how to keep/grow corals. I am a complete newbie on this part and have NO idea what to even start with but this is why I am here.
3/11/2017
Set up the stand and tank and got everything ready. Here is the list of the items I had ordered and decided on (after researching and reading over way too many posts).
Aquascaped the tank to try and get some height but also to provide different levels as well as some caves/tunnels for the little guys eventually. Need to buy some epoxy to 'glue' the rocks together to add stability
I will post pics of the tank after I post this.
Day 1: 3/12/2017
Tank pretty cloudy still and realized that the stock power head was pointing down so it was kicking up the sand. Redirected it to the top and found that the water was getting clearer quicker.
Temp: 78
pH: 7.4 (not sure why so low)
Ammonia: 2.0
Nitrite: 1.0
Nitrate: 10
Salinity: 36 (too high)
Day 2: 3/13/2017
Tank pretty cloudy still and realized that the stock power head was pointing down so it was kicking up the sand. Redirected it to the top and found that the water was getting clearer quicker.
Added Bio-Spira today to get things started.
Temp: 78
pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 2.0
Nitrite: 2.0
Nitrate: 10
Salinity: 35
Keeping lights off and just waiting, watching and reading/researching.
Comments, advice and whatever else you want to throw my way are welcome. I am sure I will make mistakes but hopefully will minimize as much as possible. I know this will take me months/years to achieve the look I am going for.
Jen

After a recent trip to Maldives, I was inspired to get back into the hobby but this time. Had tanks many years ago but never a reef tank. I decided to go with the Coralife Biocube to minimize equipment and lighting upgrades. Funny, I have only had the thing set up for 3 days and am already planning on changing out the media basket and probably adding an ATO, skimmer possibly and other 'stuff'.
I would like to have a few fish (the normal stuff) and learn how to keep/grow corals. I am a complete newbie on this part and have NO idea what to even start with but this is why I am here.
3/11/2017
Set up the stand and tank and got everything ready. Here is the list of the items I had ordered and decided on (after researching and reading over way too many posts).
- 30 lbs dry pukani rock from BRS
- 30 lbs live sand from BRS I went with the finest sand because it's pretty and probably already regretting this decision as it's very easily blown around. But time will tell when I get my corals in.
- inTank media basket with floss, Purigen and Chemi-pure. I will wait to put this in after the tank cycles. So for now, just the stock media and filter
- 100 w heater with display
- 30 gallons of RO/DI water from the LFS
Aquascaped the tank to try and get some height but also to provide different levels as well as some caves/tunnels for the little guys eventually. Need to buy some epoxy to 'glue' the rocks together to add stability
I will post pics of the tank after I post this.
Day 1: 3/12/2017
Tank pretty cloudy still and realized that the stock power head was pointing down so it was kicking up the sand. Redirected it to the top and found that the water was getting clearer quicker.
Temp: 78
pH: 7.4 (not sure why so low)
Ammonia: 2.0
Nitrite: 1.0
Nitrate: 10
Salinity: 36 (too high)
Day 2: 3/13/2017
Tank pretty cloudy still and realized that the stock power head was pointing down so it was kicking up the sand. Redirected it to the top and found that the water was getting clearer quicker.
Added Bio-Spira today to get things started.
Temp: 78
pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 2.0
Nitrite: 2.0
Nitrate: 10
Salinity: 35
Keeping lights off and just waiting, watching and reading/researching.
Comments, advice and whatever else you want to throw my way are welcome. I am sure I will make mistakes but hopefully will minimize as much as possible. I know this will take me months/years to achieve the look I am going for.
Jen